QMI Agency

Not only did Colorado Avalanche forward Ryan O’Reilly set a career high for points in 2013-14, he also came close to hanging a goose egg under the PIM category in the NHL stats.

O’Reilly, who had a team-high 28 goals and career-best 64 points, finished the year with just one minor penalty to join former Los Angeles Kings forward Butch Goring as the only players to get two or fewer PIMs over least 80-plus games.

That helped O’Reilly earn his first nomination for the Lady Byng Trophy, the NHL’s award for sportsmanship and playing ability. He is joined by San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau and New York Rangers forward Martin St. Louis, last year’s winner, as nominees for the award.

Marleau had 33 goals and 37 assists while picking up just 18 penalty minutes in 82 games. It is the second time he’s been on the short-list of nominees for the Lady Byng.

St. Louis, who was traded to the Rangers by the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline this season, had 30 goals and 39 assists while recording 10 penalty minutes in 81 games. The 38-year-old has won the Lady Byng three times in the last four seasons.